THE PLAYER: Black Ops II: No.1 with many bullets

Subtle pacing, slick gameplay and a multiplayer mode gamers will want to inject into their veins makes Black Ops II just as good as the original, and then some. (Activision / Treyarc)

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NEIL MacFARLANE

Sony PlayStation 3, Activision/Treyarch. Rated M, MSRP $59.99.

HEADING INTO WEEK 3 of The Period of Massive Game Releases, I had already concluded that Call of Duty: Black Ops II would be at least as terrific as its predecessor before I even slid the game disc into my PS3.

What was left for me to determine was if this was an incremental update to an already-successful formula or if Treyarch decided to “go for a walk” with the franchise.

If this game were a meal, it would undoubtedly be served in three courses:

single player, multiplayer and zombies.

While each is intrinsically related, there are stark differences between each mode.

The solo campaign comes across as far more understated than in past blow-’em-up Call of Duty titles, and the change of pace is welcome.

Instead of eight hours of constant explosions and shrapnel, there is a renewed emphasis on subtlety and emotion that helps draw the gamer into the narrative instead of just assaulting their senses, Michael Bay style.

Choices players make in the game affect the storyline this time around, too, which adds a new layer of complexity (and replay-ability) to the title, because how the game progresses and how it ends depends on how you conduct yourself.

The temporal split between missions in the past and those set in the year 2025 may come across as dissonant at first glance, but they are melded together expertly by the end of the tale.

It is not all smiles and sunshine in solo land, though. New Strike Force missions that are half-cooked, real-time strategy segments don’t gain any traction.

Artificial intelligence is especially weak in these missions. You will spend most of your time marshalling your “allies” into corners where they can’t get in your way.

But all that is washed away once you sample the multiplayer mode that, for many, will comprise the main course.

The original Black Ops was lauded for its focused, razor-sharp multiplayer action that many found preferable to the original Modern Warfare series.

That same recipe is here, but with small refinements to make it even more palatable.

A revamp of the loadout-perks system allows for insane customization options to suit every player and playing style.

You can dump your points into being a total master of a certain weapon but leave yourself relatively short on perks you can earn in the game.

Or you can load up on perks and wade into battle with not much more than a knife, knowing that if you ever do get hold of someone’s gun, you will have the ability to rain hellfire and doom on your enemies with your superior perk array.

Maps are small but not claustrophobic and the action is intense without putting gamers through the proverbial meat grinder.

With oodles of matchmaking options, player leagues, streaming of games, clans and more, this is a multiplayer feast for fans of online shooters.

The popular Zombies mode is the dessert portion, and like a slab of mincemeat pie, it is going to have plenty of fans and as many detractors.

The horribly named Tranzit mode that allows players to move together from one setting to another helps foster a ramshackle sense of cohesion between each episode of zombie blasting, but in the end, it is still all about holing up inside and keeping zombies on the other side of the doors.

Fun with friends, somewhat underwhelming solo or with strangers. But to each their own. The popularity of this title speaks for itself. It is on track to destroy the sales records Modern Warfare 3 set last year, and this may be the single-biggest media release of 2012, including all movies, books and beyond (although Halo 4 may temper those figures a bit).

For Call of Duty veterans, this is a game worth savouring. For newbies, it is a feast for the gaming senses. For everyone, this is one of the best shooters on the market today.